Tip 31, for 7/17/08

no tip yesterday, such is life- usually falling short of expectations

here's today's tip:

Let's say you're driving and you need to make a left turn. You happen to be in a left turn only lane. Let's say that this left turn only lane happens to have a left turn signal (as indicated by the "LEFT TURN SIGNAL" sign next to the traffic light. Let's say that this light is red and you stop, exactly as you should, just before the white stopping line. There are other lanes (obviously, or there would be no need for a left turn lane with a corresponding left turn signal) with other, normal, traffic lights.

So you are in this lane. Someone pulls up behind you. The other lights turn green. There is a pause. (...) <-pause and they beep at you. The important thing to understand in this situation is that that person is probably ill informed (but now you won't be). Do not get angry or distracted. You know, and are sure you know, that you can't make your left turn. That's what the LEFT TURN SIGNAL light means when it's red.

Such an arrangement, with separate left turn signals, are not common, to the best of my knowledge. There happen to be a lot of them where I am living. So... when you're driving somewhere and you happen upon a left turn signal- you know what to do.